Baby Beehive Hats

Baby Beehive Hats by Dawn Brocco

What is Being Made

Baby Beehive Hats are charming, themed knitted hats designed for the smallest members of your family. These warm hats feature a delightful bee-inspired design, complete with honeycomb stitch ear flaps and decorative bee buttons that hang from crochet loops at the crown. The pattern includes four different sizes—newborn to 3 months, 6 to 9 months, 12 to 18 months, and 2 to 4 years—ensuring that babies and toddlers of various ages can enjoy this happy, functional accessory. The hats are knit in a cheerful sunshine yellow color that perfectly complements the bee theme.

Techniques and Construction

This intermediate-level knitting pattern combines several techniques to create both visual interest and practical warmth. The main body of the hat is worked using fundamental knitting methods appropriate for the advanced beginner to intermediate skill level. The ear flaps feature a honeycomb stitch, which adds textural depth while serving the practical purpose of keeping little ears warm and protected. The crown is finished with crochet loops that serve as attachment points for the bee button embellishments. Crochet ties are incorporated into the design and can be styled in two ways: left to hang straight for a decorative effect, or tied together for a more secure fit around the chin.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs specialized abbreviations and stitch techniques including 1/1RT (a right-leaning cable stitch created by skipping one stitch, knitting the second stitch in the front loop, then knitting the skipped stitch in the front loop before slipping both stitches from the left-hand needle together) and 1/1LT (a left-leaning cable stitch worked by skipping one stitch and knitting the second stitch in the back loop). These cable variations create the honeycomb texture that defines the ear flaps. The honeycomb stitch pattern adds both structural integrity and visual appeal to the design.

Materials

The Baby Beehive Hats pattern calls for Kraemer Yarns Naturally Nazareth, a 100% natural fiber yarn in a sunshine yellow colorway. This yarn is worked at aran and heavy worsted weights, providing the necessary warmth and durability for baby garments. The pattern requires appropriate knitting needles sized for the yarn weight being used, as well as a crochet hook for creating the ties and attachment loops. Bee-themed buttons are used as embellishments and are secured to the hat via the crochet loops at the crown.

Finished Dimensions

• Newborn to 3 months: 15" circumference, 5" height to top of crown
• 6 to 9 months: 16.5" circumference, 5.5" height to top of crown
• 12 to 18 months: 18" circumference, 6.25" height to top of crown
• 2 to 4 years: 19.5" circumference, 7" height to top of crown

Pattern design and copyright © 2013 by Dawn Brocco Knitwear Designs. All rights reserved.